Awasthi is a surname / family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins of India. The Awasthi Brahmins belong to the kanya-kubja Brahman categories of Brahmans of northern India as well as in western areas of Nepal, mainly concentrated in Baitadi, Dharchula, but also in Gaur,Saryupari and Sannaadhya.
For last several centuries, Awasthi Brahmins have been located in and around Kanpur and Unnao (and the adjoining hinterland i.e. from Kannauj) located in the fertile Gangetic plains of Awadh, presently forming part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Awasthi Brahmins are also found in Kangra district of North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. They have been residing there for several centuries. Awasthi Brahmins are also located at village Naret & Pantgaon (Askote). It is believed that in ancient times two Awasthi brahmins came from KANYA KUBZ to Naret for some adventure. One of them was overwhelmed by beauty of that place and decided to live there. Since then, this generation started Jauljibi, in the District Pithoragarh of Kumaon Uttarakhand State for last several generations. According to another theory, Awasthi Brahmins have migrated from Uttar Pradesh, however there is no recorded proof for this. The geographical area, where majority of Awasthi families are presently located, for last several centuries, has a rich historical heritage and is a crystal ball of ancient as well as the modern Indian civilization. When India is ruled by Muslims then they migrate to farwestern Nepal to protect their religion, culture. Nepalese awasthi belonging to Atri Gotras. No credible source of information exists as regards to the period Awasthi Brahmins have been residing in Awadh area. There is also no complete and authoritative count of North Indian Brahmin sub-castes (or any other castes / sub-castes) in India. For example, Rev. M.A. Sherring in the 1860s, had compiled names of about 2,000 sub-castes of Brahmins in his second volume of his Hindu Tribes and Castes. And, he had indicated that the list could be incomplete.[edit]History
[edit]Reference to ancestry
According to studies conducted by Rev. M A Sherring, all the chief Brahmin gotras are descended from the Saptarishis (sapta means seven and rishiss means sages in Sanskrit). The other meaning of Saptarishis is constellation of Great Bear (Ursa Major).
According to Indian mythology, these seven sages were Brigu, Angirh, Atri, Viswamitra, Kashyap, Vashisht, and Agastya. Awasthi Brahmins belong to sage Upamanyus Gotra, and sage Upamanyus, along with sages like Vishisht, Kundin, Parashara and Jatukaraniya followed the school of (thought) of sage Vashisht. Mythological evidences suggest that the Sage Upamanyus followed the Yajur veda. The Awasthi Brahmins located in District Pithoragagh of Uttarakhand State belong to Agastya Gotra and are Yajurvedadhyayi. From the ancient time of theVedic period, Awasthi Brahmins have always excelled in intellectual pursuits and they still continue to excel in activities requiring brains than brawn. In Brahmin hierarchical level, they are like Shukla, mishra and Vajpayee Brahmins.
[edit]Vansh Vreksha and Habited villages in Askote region
Awasthi's Brahmin are closely associated with Pal RajVansh of Askote.The Brahmin from UP Plains migrated in Askote as a Rajpurohit of King. The first man who came to Askote was Pt. Kaamal Dev Ji. The king of Askote met the Kailash Yati Pandit Kamal dev Awasthi at Yatra PARAV near by his Court At BAGARIHAT/UKKU and made agree to him to be his RAJ PUROHI. The village Neret was gifted Kamal dev ji by the king of askote riyasat some other villages as Chamtoli, Pantgaon, Dyuti jouljibi purchased or occupied by later generations. These are the basic villages of Awasthi families of Askote. The Vansh Vreksha of Awasthi is collectively prepared by Pt. M.D. Awasthi, Dr. D.D. Awasthi, Dr. S.C. Awasthi, Shri A.M. Awasthi, Sri M.M. Awashti, Sri H.B. Awasthi, and computer version by N.B. Awasthi (writer and social worker).
[edit]Language
Being residing in the ancient land of Awadh and their gotra being Upamanyus, who was indoctrinated in the school (of thought) of sage Vashist, the surname Awasthi is likely to be a shortened "Awadhi" form and derivative of “Awadh-Vashist”.
The mother tongue of Awasthi Brahmins is Awadhi, an Indo-Aryan language, akin to Hindi. Awadhi is the language, in which, the famed epic Sri Ramacharit Manas was written by Tulasi Das. Like most of the north Indian Brahmins, Awasthi Brahmins do not allow consanguineous marriages, which are in vogue in some social groups in other parts of India. Barkha Awasthi is also known Awasthis in Kumaon speakKumaoni.
[edit]Locations
Although most Awasthi Brahmins are confined in the area of Awadh, with the changing times they are moving out to other areas, and out of their “home zone” of Awadh, they are, sometimes, mistakenly thought to belong to Kayastha caste, which have some similar sounding surnames like Asthana and Ambastha.
